Can orienting device



Feb. 9, 1937. w. E. BURNS CAN ORIENTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22; 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Filed Aug. 22, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 S RM Y O E T N NE R E 0 m0 r Feb. 9, 1937. w. E. BURNS CAN ORIENTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 22, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 9, 1937. w. E. BURNS CAN ORIENTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 22, 1936 R 5 Y m m hw N 0 R W5 o -111 m W 0 A w m wm M Y r m. 0 IB .111 kw m6 W R \h \v M m 1111 1 Qv 7 n \ILII vw 111/ 1 1 7mm 1 11%| mm 1111111 Wm 1 1 11.711111 1 mm L MW Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATS CAN ORIENTING DEVICE poration of Delaware Application August 22, 1936, Serial No. 97,427

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in can labeling machines, and it has reference more particularly to means for orienting or registering each can upon its arrival at the labeling station so that, when rolled through the machine, a label will be applied thereto in a definite location with reference to some particular part of the can; it being the principal object of this invention to provide means for the above stated purpose that is durable, exceedingly accurate, and which permits of fast operation.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the provision of an orienting means for the above purpose that is designed especially for use with cylindrical cans having the ends double seamed thereon, and which means takes into consideration the slight bulge .in the double seam that results from the overlapping in the seam of the ends of the body blank; this bulge being utilized as the means whereby each can is brought into a definite relationship with reference to the label stack before it is released for travel across the stack to pick up its label.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and in the combination of parts embodied in the device, as will hereinafter be described.

Explanatory to the present invention, it will here be stated that it is only of recent years that labels have been generally applied to tearing strip cans; the reason being that it is considered a disadvantage and undesirable to cover the tongue of the tearing strip. These objections have been overcome by notching the labels, and so applying them that the tongues of the tearing strips are exposed to view through the label notches. This, however, necessitates an accurate placement of the labels on the cans, and, when this work is done by machinery, it requires the use of some sort of orienting means whereby to register the tearing strip tongue within the label notch.

The present mechanism contemplates the use of notched labels and also that the cans shall be rolled rapidly in succession along a track or guideway, across suitable glue applying means and then across the label stack, as in the ordinary labeling operation, and each can to pick up its label; and it further contemplates that each can shall be mechanically, oriented in the runway, prior to its passage across the label stack so that its tearing strip tongue will, upon picking up the label, be accurately registered in the notch of the label.

In accomplishing the foregoing, as well as other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a side view of a part of a labeling machine with which a can orienting means, embodied by the present invention, is associated.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, plan View of the orienting means.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the conveyer chain at one side and the grip dogs thereon, and illustrating the closing and opening of the dogs to grip and subsequently release the can flange.

Fig. 4 is an end view of a can, showing the bulge in the double seam against which the grip dogs engage to temporarily hold the can against rotation while being brought to release position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, cross sectional detail taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2, showing the driving means for the feed timing devices and the orienting belts.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail of one of the chain guide shoes illustrating its adjustability and its yieldability.

Fig. 7 is a face View of a section of chain and one of the grip dogs thereon.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a machine having a can spacing and feed device of an alternative construction, especially suited to short cans.

Before going into a detailed description of the present invention, it will be explained that it is intended to be applied to the ordinary types of labeling machines wherein cans are rolled along a guideway across a glue applying roller and subsequently across a stack of labels so that the cans successively delivered along the runway, by reason. of the glue applied thereto by the roller, will pick up the labels and cause them to be wrapped about the cans.

It is to be understood that applicant makes no claim to the devices for applying the glue or for supporting the label stack, but claims invention only in the can orienting means which is applicable to machines of this type.

Referring more in detail to the drawingsl designates a horizontal runway along which the cylindrical cans are caused to be rolled by a traveling belt 3 which is supported substantially parallel with and above the guideway and operates about suitable belt wheels at opposite ends of the machine; one of such wheels being designated at 4 in Fig. 1.

The belt wheel 4 is supported by a cross shaft r 6 revoluble in supporting bearings ll that are fixed to the frame structure of the machine, and it is intended that it be driven by any suitable means and in the direction indicated by the the feed screw; it is then picked upbypaired' star wheels -20' fixed on a driven cross shaft 2l.., This cross shaft is revolubly supported in bearings 22'-.-22f and has a driving sprocket i wheel'23 fixed thereto about which a sprocket;

This chain belt 24 'operarrow adjacent'thereto so that, by reason of its bearing against the top surfaces of the cans, it causes themto be rolled along the runway without slippage except when controlled by the orienting means. I

The cans to be labeled are delivered by gravfity tothe machine down an inclinedrunway Ii! and are spaced and timed in theirdelivery there-- from to the runway I. The timing and spacing means com prises a'screwli that is disposed longitudinally of and medially below the. guidea way 10.. This feed screw is of the spiral type now generally in use for this purpose and will not here be described indetail. It has the-opposite end portions of its supporting and driving shaft l2 revolublycontaine'd in bearings I3'|3 and it is driven by a gear wheel 14 fixed to shaft I2' and operating in mesh with a driven gear wheel I5 fixed on a driven shaft IG that extends longitudinally of and below the fed screw,.as

will be observed by reference to Fig. 1.

As each can is releasedinto the machine from chain belt; 24 operates. V ates about'and is driven bya sprocket wheel 25 on a cross shaft 26, revolubl'e, as seen in Fig. 5,

in azsupporting bearing 21 supported; below the trackorguideway I, The shaft 26, at the end opposite that mounting the wheel25fhas a gear 28 fixed thereto in mesh witha similar gear 29 on the machines main' drive shaft 30-, which, as

seen in Fig. 5, is disposed belowand transversely of the guideway l and is revoluble in supporting bearings 3| -3 fixed to the oppositesidesof the runwayframe structure.

:In Fig. l of the drawings, I have designated the glue container by reference character G, and the glue applying roller by B; This roller is super that a line of glue will'be applied to: the can wall'from end toend; V V l The labelstack supporting meansis designated ported so thatit is partially submerged in the glue and also in position that cans passing thereacross will contact with the roller in such manby reference character. S and the stack oflabels by L, and it is tobe understood that suitable 'feed deviceswould be employed for elevating the stack inaccordankze with the removal of of the cans as they move therealongfare. the orienting and conveying' sprocket chain belts 35". These belts are supported and guided" -in their travel along the opposite sides of the guideway within channeled guide shoes 3636, and they are driven in unison, respectively, by'

sprocket wheels 313'|'. Adjacent the guidewa'y,

' the 'belts travel in the'directionof travel of the cans.

r The sprocket wheels 31 3'I" are fixed the.

1 upper ends of vertical, driving lshafts38,38' .which are revolubly contained in bearings BEL-39" supported fromfthe framestructure 'at' opposite sides of the guideway :At their lowerends, the

shafts 38-38 are equipped with beveled driving gears 40-40 and, these operate in mesh with similar gears 41-4! 'fixed on the driven cross shaft 30, as will best be understood by reference toFig.5.

It will also be observed in Fig. 5 that the cross: shaft 3B, is equipped centrally with a bevel gear 43 in driving mesh with a gear 44 fixedon the v shaft l6-to drive the feed screw, as has pre viously been explained;. q V

Each of'the can orienting sprocket chain belts 35-35 is like the other. They are of the same 1 length, and are located directly opposite with reference to the guideway. Also, the guide shoes 36 and 36' are of the same length and each has rounded opposite ends 'about which the belts travel, and each belt iskept taut by the action of a tightener lever 48 having one end pivotally ati 'tached to the corresponding guide shoe and equipped at itsother ends with a guide shoe 50 across which the chain travels; the leverbeing held in position to maintain tension on theibelt,

; by means of anadjustingscrew 5| which is set therein to engage a fixed stop 52 on the'frame structure. 1 I 1 Interposed in the orienting'chainbe1ts'35---}35' at intervals of regular spacing, which is a distance somewhat greater than the: diameter Jof the cans, are attachment links. constituting the grip dogs which close 'over'the double seamed flanges I at opposite ends of thescanslas the cans enter themachine, thereby to effect the accurate positioning of the cans before they are,released for continued rolling travel along theguideway.

to cross the glueapplying roller and label stack. Each of these grip dogs'comprises a pair of'adjacent links in the chain, such as those desig V nated'in'Fig. 3 particularlyby reference numerals;

' '55 and 56. These two linksare operatively, connected by a pivot pin 51 and they have portions extended outwardly therefrom to -provide a pair.

of-opposed jaws; one ofthejaws being designated by numeral 55a and the otherby numeral 56a.

By reference to the pair of links 55 and 56 at V the left-hand end of 'Fig. 3, it will be observed that, as the chain belt travels around the curved end 36a ,of the guide shoeSSQthe coacting jaws will be opened apart; and it will be understood.

' also that, as this portion of'thechain belt moves into the straight portion of the guide shoe along the ,guideway l, the jaws will be closed together.

The timing of the cans in their delivery intothe.

7 machine by the star wheels 20- -20 is synchronized with the travel of. the two chain belts, particularly with reference to position'jof the grip dogs thereon, so that, as the jaws 55aand- 56a. of the dogs at opposite ends ofa can ,close together, .they will close about the inner. and,

outer faces of the projecting double seam flanges f at opposite ends of an entering can. The jaws, however, do not olosetightly against the flanges,

and the can therefore is permitted to continue. to, roll in the guideway until the bulge b in the.

double seam, that is caused by the overlapping of theiends of the body blank therein, engages the jaws, as will be understood by reference to Fig.4, and thereby checks further. rolling movement of the can so long as the jaws are'closed. As

soon as the can. is thus "stopped from rollingi it is simply dragged along; the guid eway, by the travel of the two orienting chains, toward the delivery end, and then, as the two; chain belts pass about the rounded ends 36b ofithe guide shoes 36- -36, the dogs atopposite ends ofthe can are simultaneouslyopened apa-rt, thus; r-

leasing the can and permitting it to resume rolling travel under the influence of the belt 3.

It is to be understood that each can is released at a predetermined and accurately spaced distance from the glue applying roller R, and also at a predetermined distance from the label stack. It is further to be understood that, in each instance, the spacing is such that, as the released can rolls along the guideway across the glue applying roller, the roller will apply glue thereto along the line which will first contact the label thereby to cause the label to adhere to the can and to be wrapped thereabout as the can rolls across the stack. The spacing also provides that the notch on the label will be registered with the tearing strip tongue of the can.

In order that the grip dogs may be made to accommodate can flanges of different thicknesses, the jaws of the dogs are relatively adjustable in spacing. It will be observed, by reference to Fig. 3, that the link 56 has a projecting shoulder 56b and that the jaw member 56a is fastened in place by a pair of set screws 6060 that are extended through this shoulder and through a spacing block 6] that is interposed between the jaw and shoulder, and are threaded into the jaw. Should it be desired ,to efiect a change in the spacing of the jaws of a dog when closed together, this is accomplished by removing the spacing block 6! and substituting a block of a thickness that will give the desired spacing. By proper adjustment, the jaws can be made to close about the can flange with just the necessary clearance to permit the can to roll freely but to cause it to be checked by the seam bulge b coming into contact with the jaws.

Referring more in detail to the sprocket chain belts 35 and 35' and their guide and supporting shoes 38 and 36': Each chain belt is of the usual roller sprocket type except for the interposed dogs. Each of the guide shoes 36 and 36' comprises a flat supporting bar or plate 65, as seen in Fig. 5, supported horizontally and fixedly upon the frame structure at opposite sides of the can guideway. These bars have opposite ends rounded off as at 36c and 36b for the guidance of the chain belts thereabout, and the edge portions thereof that are adjacent the can guideway are perfectly straight and are parallel with the guideway.

Extended vertically through each bar 65 adjacent its opposite ends, are bolts 66, whereby a pair of rails 6'i'o1 are fixed, in spaced relation, to upper and lower faces of, and along the inner edge of the bar 65, thereby to provide an intermediate channel for the support and guidance of the chain belt therein. The bars 6'I-fil extend beyond the longitudinal edge of bar 65 and are channeled in their inner faces, as at 68, to receive guide rollers 69 that are mounted on the extended ends of the pivot pins 51 that join the links 55 and 56 embodied in the grip dogs. The jaws of the grip dogs extend beyond the inner edges of these bars 43'l-5l for engaging the can end flanges, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 5, and the rollers 15 of the sprocket chain links bear in rolling contact with the straight inner edges of the bars 65.

The bolts 66 which mount the channeled guide bars 61-451 pass vertically through openings 14 in the bars 65, with clearance thereabout to permit of a slight inward or outward movement of the bars 61. Also, extending through openings 16 in the opposite ends of bars 65 are leaf springs Tl, which, at their upper and lower ends have set screws 18 attaching them, respectively, to the upper and lower paired bars 61-451. Also, there are set screws 38 adjustably fixed in lugs 8| in the frame structure and engaging the end portions of the bars 6'! to limit the outward movement thereof relative to the guideway, and. the leaf springs will normally operate to hold the bars 6'! in such position that the sprocket chain rollers are always tightly seated against the edges of plates 65, but the springs may yield outwardly to accommodate the bars 5'! to slight outward movement that would be incident to jaws of a dog closing on the bulge of a seam.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated an alternative means of feeding cans into the machine and to the star wheels 2il2il. This comprises a driven sprocket chain belt operating longitudinally of the runway l6 about sprocket wheels 86 and 81. Attached to the belt are arcuate links 88, each of approximately in extent. Adjacent links are paired, and each pair have adjacent ends pivotally joined as at 90, and their outer ends pivotally attached to the chain 85, as at 9|. The arrangement is such that, as the chain 85 passes about the sprocket wheels 86, the paired links 88 will open apart for reception of the cans from the delivery chute i0 and then, as the chain 85 straightens out in its travel along the guideway to sprocket 8?, there will be a relative upward travel of the outer endsof paired links, whereby each set of paired links will form a pocket in which the cans will be received and held in deflnite spacing, and synchronized in delivery to the star wheels.

Assuming the device to be so constructed, its operation, briefly described is as follows: Cans delivered down the runway ill by gravity will be timed and spaced in their delivery to the machine by the feed screw I l and star wheels 20. As each can enters the machine, it is engaged by the traveling belt 3 and caused to be rolled along the guideway I fordeliveryto the can orienting chains and subsequently across the glue applying roller R and the label stack. The star wheels 28 synchronize the delivery of cans to the orienting chain belts to such extent that, as each can enters between the belts, the double seamed flanges at its opposite ends are received between the closing jaws of grip dogs at opposite sides of the guideway. The can continues to rotate until the bulges in the double seams engage the closed jaws. Then the can is dragged along the guideway and finally released by the opening of the jaws, for travel across the label stack.

The position of the orienting device relative to the label stack is such that a released can will make one full revolution in travel between the glue roller and the label stack. Thus, that portion of the can which engages the glue roller will engage the end of the uppermost label of the stack, thereby causing the label to be picked up and wrapped around the can. Furthermore, the spacing of the label stack from the delivery end of the orienting chains is such that, in passing across the label stack, the tearing strip tongue of the can will be brought accurately into registration with the notch that is provided inthe label.

It is quite readily apparent that for different size cans, the spacing of the parts would be varied accordingly, and also that for cans of different length, the spacing across the guideway of the orienting chains would be adjusted to suit the length of the can.

- Letters Patent is i-operated at high speed. w 7 Having thus described my invention, what I Claim as new therein Theoparticular advantage of this construction resides in, the fact'that it isof substantial and durable construction and absolutely positive in its positioning or registering of'the can, and can be and desire to secure by :of a rollingcan through a definite interval of its travelin a manner whereby to be' engaged by the bulge in the can seam, thereby tostop rolling of the can and retain it in a definite position until released from the traveling belt for resumption of rolling travel. I

2. 'A can orienting means comprising, in c'om-- bination, a guideway; means for rolling cans in I succession therealong, a belt' having 'a length thereof supported'for travel along the guideway adjacent the ends of the cans and driven in the direction oftheir travel, and'dogs on the belt, each adapted'to close'loosely about the double seam of ascan and serving, while closed, as a stop to be engaged by the bulge in the engaged seam whereby to stoprolling' rof the can and retain it definitely positioned untilreleased by the dog'forresumption of rolling travel.

'3. A can orienting means; comprising a guide-Z way, timing meansfor deliveringcans in succession into'the guideway, meansifo'r causing the cans tobe rolled along the guideway, a traveling belt synchronized in travel'with the said timing means and having a length'thereof supported for 7 travel along the guideway adjacent the ends of the rolling cans, and can registering dogs on said, belt adapted to operativelyengage'the cans upon 7 V their'entering the guideway and to be disengaged therefrom at a definite locati'omeach'dog comprising a pair of jaws adapted to be loosely closed about the double seam flange of an entering can to operate as a stop to be engaged bythe bulge in the. can seam, thereby to stop rolling of the can and retain it in a definite position: until disengaged by the dog. a

4. A canorienting means comprising a guideway,-timing 'means for delivering cans in succession into theguideway for rolling travel therealong, a traveling'belt' having a straight length thereof supported for travel closely adjacent the ends of the scans in the guideway; said length of the belt passing at its opposite ends about abrupt V qoutwardly curved supports and can registering dogsfixed on said beltyeachof said dogs comr prising a pair of pivotally joined links constituting a part of the belt, with fcoacting jaws on said 1 links adapted to be closed together and to be opened apart, respectively; bypassing of thebelt about said curved supports, and means for driviing thezbelt in synchronisni' with-the timing means whereby the dogs will be causedrto opera tively engage the end seams of entering cans whereby to operate'as registering stops to 'be engaged by the seam bulges tostop rolling of the cans and retain them in definite positionuntil the f jaws are opened.

5, A can orienting means comprising a g uide way along which cans may be rolled in'succession,

means for feeding cans in timed relation into the.

guideway, a pair, of driven belts synchronized with the feeding means and. located, respectively, a at opposite sides of thelguideway and each having .a length thereof supported for travel through a definite interval along the guideway adjacent,

the ends of the cans, each of said, belts having can registering dogs thereon and'each of said dogs comprising jawsadapted to be loosely closed f about theoend'sear'n of an entering can, thereby to operate as a stop'to be engaged by the seam bulge-to definitely position thecan in the guideway, and adapted to be opened apart at a definite location in the guideway, to release the 'can'for resumption of rollingtravel along the guideway. 6. A device as in claim 5 wherein said definite- 7. A'can orienting means comprising a guideway, timing meansfor delivering'cans'in succession into the guideway, driven means for causing the cans to be rolled in "succession along the guideway, a pair of endless'sprocket chain belts;

supported at opposite sides of the guideway,each

with a straight length thereof disposed parallel 7 30 cans thereimguide shoes supporting saidstraight 1 5 lengths of belts adjacent/the guideways; said with the guideway andgadjacentthe endsrof the shoes being outwardly rounded at theiropposite ends for'travel of the belts thereover, can: regis tering dogs on said belts; said dogs each compris 'ing a. pair of pivotally joined links interposed in a belt, coacting 'jaws on the connected ,links' of its supporting'shoe; meansfor driving the chain belts in unison and in synchronism with the timing means, thereby to cause the jaws of the dogs to loosely close overthe can end flanges as they enter between the paired belts and there- 'tfi';

by to operate as stops for the can seam bulges, whereby the can is registered preparatory to its release by the jaws incident to that part ofth e 7' belt leaving theshoe. V r H V; 8. A device asin claim 7, whereinryieldable means supports the W shoes 'whereby -they aref permittedto yield inwardly toward the cans. 7

adapted to close together and open apart incident to passage of a belt about-therounded ends; V

9. Ina machine of thecharact'er described, the Q combination witha canilgu'ideway, timing means for, deliveringcans into the guideway and means a for rolling them therealong, of a can registering belt supportedadjacent the guideway with a; 7 length thereof disposed adjacent the ends of the cans therein, can registering dogs on the belt engageable with the 'endns'eams of the cans, and a shoe supporting'said length of belt; said shoe comprising a fixed' plate, outwardlyrounded.. 1at

its opposite ends for travel of the belt thereover, V

and belt guide channel bars mounted ontthe 0p-. posite faces of the plate and adapted :to retain *the belt between them, and guide rollers on the' belt adapted'for travelin said channel bars.

' WLLFORD. amass- 2o interval of travel of the belt is equalat least; to i the circumference of the end seam of the can. 

